"The Hump" was an air lane of approximately 500 miles of unpredictable weather and treacherous winds stretching from India, over Burma, to supply the Allied forces in China. From December of 1942 to V-J day in 1945, more than 700,000 tons of supplies were carried over the Himalayas in more than 150,000 individual missions.

But the cost was terrible. The Hump's "Able" route was considered the most hazardous regularly used air lane in any part of the world; conditions changed from minute to minute and from mile to mile. Thousands of men died and hundreds of aircraft were lost over the Hump and it was important to honor their accomplishments and bravery. They did the job they were supposed to do - with courage and skill, despite unbelievable odds.